Larissa (regional unit)

Larissa Περιφερειακή ενότητα Λάρισας
—  Regional unit  —
Municipalities of Larissa
Larissa within Greece
Coordinates: 39°40′N 22°30′E / 39.667°N 22.5°E / 39.667; 22.5Coordinates: 39°40′N 22°30′E / 39.667°N 22.5°E / 39.667; 22.5
Country	Greece
Region	Thessaly
Capital	Larissa
Area
– Total	5,381 km2 (2,077.6 sq mi)
Population (2005)
– Total	282,447
– Density	52.5/km2 (135.9/sq mi)
Postal codes	40x xx, 41x xx
Area codes	2410, 249x0
ISO 3166 code	GR-42
Car plates	ΡΙ

Larissa (Greek: Περιφερειακή ενότητα Λάρισας) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Thessaly. Its capital is the city of Larissa. (Total population 282,447)

Geography

Larissa is the second largest regional unit in Greece, exceeded only by Aetolia-Acarnania. It covers about one-third of Thessaly. It borders the regional units of Kozani to the northwest, Pieria to the northeast, the Aegean Sea to the east, Magnesia to the southeast, Phthiotis to the south, Karditsa to the southwest and Trikala to the west.

The tallest mountain in Greece, Mount Olympus (2,917 m) is situated in the northeastern part of the regional unit. Mount Ossa is situated in the east, at the Aegean coast. The lower stretch of the river Pineios flows through the Vale of Tempe, between Olympus and Ossa.

The northern part is covered with forests, but most of the regional unit is fertile land, the Thessalian Plain.

Climate

Larissa has a mainly Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. Winter is harsher in the mountains areas, notably the north and Mount Olympus. Larissa is often the warmest area in Greece in summer and the coldest in winter. The highest temperature ever recorded was 45.2 °C and the coldest was -21.6 °C.

Administration

The regional unit Larissa is subdivided into 7 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):^[1]

• Agia (2)
• Elassona (3)
• Farsala (7)
• Kileler (4)
• Larissa (Larisa, 1)
• Tempi (5)
• Tyrnavos (6)

Prefecture

Larissa was created as a prefecture (Greek: Νομός Λάρισας) in 1882. As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Larissa was created out of the former prefecture Larissa. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.^[1]

New municipality	Old municipalities	Seat
Agia	Agia	Agia
	Evrymenes
	Lakereia
	Melivoia
Elassona	Elassona	Elassona
	Antichasia
	Verdikousa
	Karya
	Livadi
	Olympos
	Potamia
	Sarantaporo
	Tsaritsani
Farsala	Farsala	Farsala
	Enippeas
	Narthaki
	Polydamantas
Kileler	Kileler	Nikaia
	Armenio
	Krannonas
	Nikaia
	Platykampos
Larissa (Larisa)	Larissa	Larissa
	Giannouli
	Koilada
Tempi	Makrychori	Makrychori
	Ampelakia
	Gonnoi
	Kato Olympos
	Nessonas
Tyrnavos	Tyrnavos	Tyrnavos
	Ampelonas

Provinces

• Province of Larissa - Larissa
• Province of Tyrnavos - Tyrnavos
• Province of Agia - Agia
• Province of Elassona - Elassona
• Province of Farsala - Farsala

Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece.

History

The area of Larissa was home to the Pelasgians until they merged into the broeader Greek culture. The area was invaded and was ruled by the Kingdom of Macedonia a few centuries later, and was conquered by the Roman Republic after the Third Macedonian War. The Roman imperial period was followed by Byzantine rule, which was in turn succeeded by the Ottoman Empire. Parts of Thessaly revolted during the Greek War of Independence, but Thessaly remained under Ottoman Turkish rule. It was awarded to Greece in the Congress of Berlin in 1878, and finally incorporated into the Hellenic Kingdom in 1881, albeit parts of the modern Larissa prefecture, including Tyrnavos, Elassona and Sarantaporo, remained Ottoman. During the Greco-Turkish War of 1897, the area was successfully invaded by the Ottomans, but in the end Greece conceded only minor territorial losses. The northern portions of the prefecture, the Tempe Valley and Mount Olympus, were not taken by Greece until the First Balkan War in 1912-1913.

The economy increased since the annexation in 1881 and later after 1913 for the north. After the Greco-Turkish War in Asia Minor of 1920-1922, refugees were relocated to the Prefecture. Several villages were created for them across the prefecture. During World War II, the area was a major scene of partisan activity. The occupation and the subsequent Greek Civil War however destroyed most of the local infrastructure. From the 1950s on, the road network was significantly expanded: the GR-1 was opened in 1957 and extended in the 1960s to the Tempe Valley. Electricity and radio service were provided throughout the prefecture, while television arrived in the 1970s. In 1984, the University of Thessaly opened its doors.

Economy

Its main economy since the 1970s are manufacturing, businesses, communications and services. Agriculture is the second leading industry.

Agriculture

The Thessalian Plain is famous for its crops including fruits (watermelon and melon), vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, onions, etc.), cotton, dairy, cattle and other crops.

Communications

Television

• TRT
• Thessaly

Newspapers

• Agrotikoi Ekfasi - Larissa
• I Alitheia - Farsala
• Eleftheria - Larissa
• I Foni - Farsala
• Imerisia Kyrikas - Larissa
• I Nea tis Farsalou - Farsala

Transport

There are a number of highways E75 and the main railway from Athens to Thessaloniki crosses Thessaly. The region is directly linked to the rest of Europe through International Airport of Central Greece located in Nea Anchialos in a small distance from Larisa (26 kilometers).

• Greek National Road 1/E75, SE, Cen., E - partially a divided superhighway
• Greek National Road 3, S, Cen., NW
• Motorway 3 - future
• Greek National Road 6, W, Cen., SE
• Greek National Road 13, NW
• Greek National Road 26, NW
• Greek National Road 30, S
• Larissa-Karditsa Road, S, SW
• Grevena-Elassona Road, NW
• Larissa-Melivoia Road, S, E

Sports

Sporting clubs include:

• AE Larissa - the only team in Greece that ever won a championship other than the teams from Athens and Thessaloniki.
• Olympia Larissa BC
• AEL 1964 BC

See also

• List of settlements in the Larissa prefecture

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Kallikratis reform law textPDF